A day of political drama during which a rebellion by a group of BSP MLAs suggested the possibility of a surprise in the Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh ended after the nomination of the 11 candidates in the fray was rejected on the technical ground during scrutiny. Polls for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in the state are due on November 9. While no polling will now take place, the events of Wednesday are likely to have an impact on the November 3 assembly by-polls at seven seats and the 2022 assembly election in the state. Meanwhile rebel MLAs of BSP met SP president Akhilesh Yadav at SP office in Lucknow. MLAs said they were not consulted on the candidature of official BSP nominee and alleged that their signatures had been forged. A day after BSP MLAs rebelled against the party candidate for Rajya Sabha election, Mayawati suspended all the 7 MLAs from the party membership for rebellion against the party’s candidate for Rajya Sabha election. Mayawati has said that her party would back anyone including BJP to ensure the defeat of SP candidate.
SPECULATION OVER BJP LEADER PANKAJA MUNDE JOINING NCP
After Eknath Khadse a senior BJP leader quit the party and joined NCP in Maharashtra, BJP National Secretary and former Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde praised NCP chief Sharad Pawar for his hard work and busy schedule during Coronavirus disease pandemic, triggering speculation that Pankaja Munde may follow Khadse. Munde wrote a tweet “Hats off I wonder your hectic schedule during the corona crises. I have been taught by my father to respect the hard working people irrespective of their political affiliation.”
CHIRAG PASWAN TARGETS NITISH KUMAR FOR IGNORING TOURISM IN BIHAR
While NDA leaders and Mahagathbandhan are blaming each other in public rallies, Chirag Paswan is highlighting his agenda of ‘Bihar First, Bihari First’ in his rallies. He is blaming Nitish Kumar for not developing religious tourism in his 15 year rule in the state. Chirag asserted that he will develop various places associated with Sufi saints , Goddess Sita, Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavir and Sikh guru Guru Govind Singh which belongs to Bihar and his party after coming to power, will promote religious tourism to increase the revenue for the development of the state.
TEJASHWI YADAV DRAWING MASSIVE RALLIES DESPITE MODI’S ATTACKS
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Yuvraaj (Prince) of Jungle Raj” jibe at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandan’s chief ministerial candidate on Thursday said that he should have spoken about the issues of hunger and unemployment in Bihar, rather than making personal attacks.“He is the Prime Minister of the country, he can speak anything. I do not want to comment on this, but if he had come to Bihar, he should have spoken on the special package for the state, unemployment, and hunger. People were expecting he would speak on these issues,” said Tejashwi Yadav. About Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s comment on Rahul Gandhi having “no aukaat” left, Yadav reiterated that the BJP leaders should speak on ground-level issues like unemployment and corruption rather than making personal attacks. PM Modi’s attack on Tejashwi Yadav was seen to be the most direct yet in the campaign for Bihar, and was interpreted by the opposition camp as a sign of anxiety in the BJP, which rules the state in a coalition with Nitish Kumar. Tejashwi’s rallies have been drawing record crowds and the response to his poll promise of government jobs has stunned the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
CEC MAKES SPECIAL APPEARANCE AT ROUTINE PRESS BRIEFING ON BIHAR VOTING
On Wednesday the election commission sent out an invite for a press briefing on the first phase of polling in Bihar. Such briefings are routine and are addressed by Deputy election commissioner but chief election commissioner Sunil Arora in a departure from convention turned up to brief the media on the voter turnout. He chose to make an appearance to congratulate voters, political parties and the state election machinery for successful conduct of the first phase amid the pandemic. (IPA)